Privacy and the database state in the news

Privacy and the database state in the news

Daily Archives: September 30, 2010

Antony Savvas writes in Computerworld UK: The government is considering bringing back a version of the controversial ContactPoint children’s database, just months after the original project was halted. The ContactPoint database project was launched by the previous Labour government, but the Tories vowed to scrap it if they won power, on the grounds that it was a potential security risk to children. After the election the coalition government announced it was pulling the plugs on the project, but now a parliamentary written answer, indicates they are having second thoughts and are considering a streamlined version of the database. Tim Loughton, junior minister for children and families, admitted, “We are exploring the practicality of an alternative national signposting service which would help practitioners find out whether a colleague elsewhere is working, or has previously worked, with the same vulnerable child.” He added, “The approach would particularly take account of the needs […]

Infosecurity magazine reports: The German government’s new national ID card – which will start being issued this November – has been publicly hacked on TV by members of the infamous Chaos Computer Club. The feature-rich cards, which the government has spent €24 million on so far and is hoping will be used by a variety of third-party organisations, are capable of storing useful authenticators such as biometric data and allied information. Or rather, was hoping, as German newswires have reported that members of the Chaos Computer Club demonstrated how easy the cards were to crack live on the WDR TV channel, reportedly resulting in considerable consternation in government circles. The article quotes Richard Kirk, European director of Fortify Software: The ID card industry was hit badly this year, he explained, when the UK government scrapped its plans for an ambitious UK national ID card system, so this very public cracking […]

Infosecurity magazine reports: The German government’s new national ID card – which will start being issued this November – has been publicly hacked on TV by members of the infamous Chaos Computer Club. The feature-rich cards, which the government has spent €24 million on so far and is hoping will be used by a variety of third-party organisations, are capable of storing useful authenticators such as biometric data and allied information. Or rather, was hoping, as German newswires have reported that members of the Chaos Computer Club demonstrated how easy the cards were to crack live on the WDR TV channel, reportedly resulting in considerable consternation in government circles. The article quotes Richard Kirk, European director of Fortify Software: The ID card industry was hit badly this year, he explained, when the UK government scrapped its plans for an ambitious UK national ID card system, so this very public cracking […]